NEW DIGS, FRESH OUTLOOK

While I love running my own business, and don't miss my former corporate job for much, I really do miss the people. A team. The hum of creativity going on around me – sometimes it directly inspires, and sometimes it just makes me feel good. Which also inspires, no? With that in mind, I was more than a little interested when I heard that Alison of Alison Event Planning & Design had a part-time desk opening up in her Potrero studio.

The space is lovely – check out this article for more beautiful photos – sunny and filled with eclectic artifacts that make it feel lived-in, yet also inspirational to a potential client (I mean, I'd hire her to do my wedding after seeing this space alone). The spice mixing company downstairs makes it smell like heaven, to boot!

I'm loving it – the change has rearranged my days and how work fits into them in such a wonderful, creativity-juicing way. No more sitting alone in my front room listening to jackhammers and the dog barking at the mailman while I think about how the dishwasher needs to be emptied. From my morning walk for coffee, to the office chatter about chair rentals, floral chandeliers, and strollers (Alison is a new mama), I'm pretty sure I'm right where I belong.

Needless to say, I'm recharged and ready for amazing new projects... so send them my way!

ALL IN THE FAMILY

What do you do when your husband can't stop starting companies? Make sure they look great. My latest contribution to the family business(es) is a revamped site for Nick's latest company, Hirabl (co-founded with our friend Jon). They're an HR tech software company that helps recruiters and corporate HR departments improve their bottom line by analyzing data and keeping on top of candidate and partner movements in the marketplace. Not the easiest concept to communicate and keep your audience awake (sorry, was that harsh?). Fortunately for me, Nick and Jon were down for some cheeky, irreverent images and copy to bring their business ideas to life. As usual, I had a professional organizer's zeal for sifting through their existing site for what stays, what goes, and what goes into which box. SO. SATISFYING. So here it is, all tidied up and ready for its close-up!

ONE PAGE WONDER(S)

I've just finished a one-page site for a great start-up called Augary – a fleet management software solution that monitors on-the-road data to improve safety and efficiency. I helped them to hone their message and choose the right images to convey it and add some personality to the mix.

I also used Squarespace's "coverpages" for the first time to create a condensed, off-nav version of Augary's main site, designed for users acquired via an adwords campaign. I can think of so many other fun, creative ways to use this coverpage tool to make my clients look gooooood. They're pretty sexy, as webpages go.

As always, I'm beyond satisfied with Squarespace – their design tools are stellar, and the new Squarespace Seven takes WYSWYG to a whole new level of ease. I couldn't be a bigger fan of them as both a designer and small business owner – they're killing it as usual.